Merchandise container



Nov. 14, 1967 GQL. WOOD 3,352,478

MERCHANDISE CONTAINER Filed June 6, 1966 3 Sheets-,Sheet l 3B L A I Gola34 E?? of 5e l 3f f 16 /5 :o a. Y ..-..'i' I4 'h3/ 58 f 3 6 A 4o *M "www7 l Y 1 5. ll 64* ZB] lo' I8' 8 362 5+ 62 38o '45?" 9' v 'a 52 INVENTOR.GERALD LLOYD woon ATTORNEYS Nov. 14, 1967 Gl. 1 WOOD 3,352,478

MERCHANDISE CONTAINERl Filed June 6, 196e 5 sheets-sheet 2 summaINVENTOR. GERALD LLOYD WOOD ATToRNEYs Nov. 14, 1967 G. L. WOODMERQHANDISE CONTAINER Filed June 6, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.GERALD uovo woon ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,352,473 MERSHANDISECGNTAINER Gerald L. Wood, Kansas City, Mo., assigner to Hallmark Cards,Incorporated, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed .lune 6,1966, Ser. No. 555,576 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) Y ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLSUREThis invention includes a box-like container for shipping or displayingmerchandise, and includes an open top box-like structure having aninsert liner conforming to the interior of the box portion, which alsoincludes a wall adjacent the side walls of the box portion and has meansto prevent the movement ofthe wall portions away from the side walls ofthe box portion. The liner has a closure portion which is hinged by afold line to a portion of the liner for opening and closing thecontainer, and also has brace means thereon for displaying merchandisein the container, without other outside structure such as externalsupports.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly, to a new andimproved container structure and the method of making said structure.

The principal objects of this invention are: to provide a new andimproved liner-closure assembly for the formation of a new and improvedcontainer structure; to provide a new and improved method tor theformation of liner-closure assemblies and the construction of box-likemerchandise containers; to provide such a structure wherein decorativepanels and advertising may be printed on both the inner and outersurfaces of the closure member and the inner surface of the liner memberby the single pass of a single blank through a printing means; toprovide such a structure wherein the time consuming formation of a hingejoint on a box structure to provide a hinged closure member iseliminated; to provide such a structure wherein the closure member maybe placed in an upwardly, rearwardly extending open position for displayof the merchandise within the container and advertising or decorativeeifects on the inner surface of the closure member, said closure memberremaining in said open position without the utilization of externalsupports; to provide such a structure wherein the closure member has acircumferentially extending flange portion serving to hide all the rawedges of the case or box member when the closure member is in a closedposition; to provide such a structure having a closure member hingedlyretained to the liner member of said box with said closure member havingtuck flaps for frictional engagement with the side Walls of the case orbox portion of the container to assist in holding the closure member ina closed position; to provide such a structure wherein merchandisepositioning means such as dividers or retainers may be simply die cutfrom the liner member of the liner-closure assembly, therebyfacilitating the formation of a merchandise container structure; toprovide such a container structure and method of forming said structurewhereby a multitude of said structures may be rapidly and inexpensivelyformed in an expeditious and inexpensive manner.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and examplecertain ernbodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying the features ofthis invention including a case or box member and a combinationliner-closure assembly.

ICC

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container illustrated in FIG. 1 withthe liner-closure assembly elevated above the case member of saidcontainer.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 ot FIG. l throughthe container structure.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the container structure withthe closure member in a closed position.

FIG, 5 is a plan view of the liner-closure assembly taken on line 5-5 ofFIG. 1 with said assembly lying in a flattened position.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a panel from which a blank may be cut forfabrication of the liner-closure assembly.

PIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank shown in FIG. 6 having printing anddecorative panels formed thereon by the single pass of said panelthrough a printing means.

FlG. 8 is a plan view of a blank formed from the panel illustrated inFG. 7, said blank being scored forming fold lines to divide said blankinto a closure member and a liner member and to divide said liner memberinto a base portion and a wall portion, said blank also containinglongitudinal scores to provide fold lines between the body portion ofthe closure member and the respective tuck flap.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in FIG. 8 to show thescoring or the body portion of the closure tiap to divide said bodyportion into a tirst and second portion.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the blank illustrated in FIG. 9, said blankhaving an adhesive strip formed on the second portion of the bodyportion of the closure member such that the second portion of theclosure member may be folded into adhering relation with the tirstportion of said closure member.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral l generally designates a container structureembodying the features of this invention and being broadly comprised ora case or box portion 2 and a liner-closure assembly 3 operativelyretained within the case 2 to lform a decorative lining for the case 2and a hinged lid or closure structure. The container structure 1 isexemplary only as it is illustrative of a particular embodiment whereina liner-closure assembly may be 4cooperatively retained in a case orbox-like structure t0 form a container having a hinged iid portion.

The case 2 is comprised ot a bottom panel 4, said panel 4 havingupstanding opposed side walls or flanges 6 operatively connected theretoin a conventional manner to form a box-like structure having an open topto provide exterior communication with the interior surface 8 of thecase 2. in the illustrated embodiment, the bottom panel 4 is generallyrectangular in shape having iirst and second pairs of opposed side walls6 designated by the numerals 7 and 9 extending upwardly from the outeredges of said rectangular bottom panel 4.

The liner-closure assembly 3, as illustrated includes a liner member lilfor covering or lining the interior surface S of the lower panel 4 andone of the side walls 6 of said iirst pair of side walls 7. The assembly3 also includes a closure or lid member 12 operatively connected to theliner member lil by a hinge joint 14 to hingedly .retain the closuremember 12 to the container structure 1 such that the closure member 12may be opened and closed lwith ease to facilitate access to the interiorof the container 1. The members 10 and 12, as illustrated, are formed ofa continuous longitudinally extending strip or panel of suitablematerial wherein the hinge joint 1d between the liner member lll and theclosure member l2 is a iirst fold line 15 extending transversely of thelinerclosure assembly 3.

The liner member 10, as illustrated, is generally rectangular in shapeand is divided into a base portion 18 1.) and a side wall portion 28 bya fold line 22, said fold line 2,. extending transversely of theassembly 3 in parallel spaced relation to the fold line 16 segregatingthe liner member 18 and closure member 12. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,the liner member 18 is disposed in contacting relation with the interiorsurface 8 of the case 2 with the base portion 18 of said liner 18 inoverlying contacting relation to the bottom panel 4 and the wall portion28 folded to an upstanding position relative to the base portion 18 andlying adjacent and in generally contacting relation to one of the sidewalls 6 of the opposed pair of side walls 7 of said case 2. In theillustrated embodiment, the base portion 18 and wall portion 2t) arecoextensive with the interior surface 8 of the bottom panel d and theside wall 6. The base portion 18 has the wall portion 20 hingedlyconnected to its rearward edge 24 by the fold line 22 and further,includes a forward or leading edge 26. The forward edge 26 of the baseportion 18, as illustrated, is in generally contacting relation with theside wall 6 which provides an abutment means to prevent movement of theliner member 11i when the closure member 12 is moved to its open,upward, rearwardly extend-V ing position as illustrated in FIG. 3 tofacilitate the retention of the closure member 12 in the desired openposition in a manner to be later described.

In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 18 and the wall portion28 each have decorative panels 28 and 38 respectively, which may containdesigns, advertising or the like, said panels 2S and 38 being printedthereon to provide a pleasing appearance to the interior of thecontainer 1 for merchandising purposes. The lbase portion 1S alsoincludes means for positioning merchandise on the merchandise supportsurface 28 of the liner member 10. The merchandise positioning means isillustrated herein as merchandise retainers 32, said retainers 32 beingcut from the base portion material and folded in an angularly upstandingposition to receive therebeneath merchandise such as the envelope 34illustrated in FlG. 1. Various forms of merchandise positioning meansmay be employed on the liner member 18, either by die cutting said meansfrom portion 18 or attaching Yseparate means thereto; however, as willbe later indicated, the die cutting of positioning means from the baseportion 18 greatly facilitates the lproduction of such liner-closureassemblies 3.

The closure member 12 is generally comprised of a first portion or panel35 providing an interior surface 33 for the closure member 12 and asecond portion or panel 4i? forming an exterior surface 42 for theclosure member 12. The first portion 36 of closure member 12 isoperatively connected to the upper edge i4 of the side wall portion 2Qof the liner member 1t? by the fold line 16 extending transversely ofthe assembly 3. The first portion 36 of the closure member 12, asillustrated, has a pair of opposed longitudinally extending side edgeshaving longitudinally extending tuck flaps 48 operatively connected toeach of said side edges 4x5 by a fold'line 50. The lirst and secondportions 36 and di), as illustrated, each have planar surfacesy 39 andi1 respectively in opposed relation to the surfaces 38 and 42respectively.

The second portion 40 of the closure member 12 is operatively connectedto the first portion 36 by means of a transverse fold line 52 at endportion 54 of portion 36, said fold line 52 being illustrated in aparallel spaced relation to the fold lines 16 and 24. The first portion36 and second portion 48 of closure member 12 are folded into contactingrelation with an adhesive 56 disposed between the planar surfaces 39 and41 respectively of said portions 36 and 4t) forming a double-layeredclosure member 12.

As illustrated, the second portion 48 has a transverse dimension greaterthan the transverse dimension of the liner member 18 and the case 2 toprovide a ange portion SS extending longitudinally of the assembly 3 andadapted to overlie and bear upon the side walls 6 of the case 2 when theclosure member 12 is moved to its closed position, as illustrated inFIG. 4, thereby concealing the raw edges at the upper end of the sidewalls 5 to improve the esthetic qualities of the container structure 1.V

Each of the portions 36 and 40 is greater in longitudinal dimension thanthe longitudinal dimension of the base portion 18 of the liner member 18and the spacing between walls 6 of the pair of walls 7 to provide aiange portion 68 at the forward end 62 of the case 2 and a flangeportion 64 at the rearward end 66 of the case 2 for disposition inoverlying, outwardly extending relation to the side walls 6 forconcealment of the raw edges of said side walls d.

The ange portion 54 at the rearward end 65 of container 2 overlies thefold line 16 in opposed spaced relation and is of sufficient length toprovide a sliding engagement with the rearward exterior surface 68 ofthe side wall 6 of the pair Yof walls 7 of the case 2 when the closuremember 12 is moved to an upstanding or open position to provide a meansfor retaining the closure member 12 in said rearwardly upwardly openposition. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive strip or portion56 is spaced inwardly a predetermined distance to a point atapproximately numeral 7) allowing the second portion 411 of the closuremember 12 at lits rearward end portion 71 to flex outwardly from thefirst `portion 36 of closure member to elfect the sliding engagementwith surface 68. In this manner, the closure member 12 mayy be opened toan upstanding position to allow display of the merchandise within thecontainer 1, said closure mem'- ber 12 being retained by the bracingaction of the retaining flange portion 64 and the abutment of theforward edge 26 of the base portion 18 of liner member 10 against theside wall 6 opposite the closure member 12.

Referring to FIGS, 6 through 10, the liner-closure assembly 3 may beformed by first taking a panel '72 illusthe esthetic qualities of thecontainer 1. It should be noted -that the advertising and decorativeeffects may be printed on the panel 72 with a single pass of panel 72through a printing means forming all of the desired printing anddecorative effects on one side of panel 72; said panel 72 then beingfoldable into the liner-closure assembly 3', thereby employing theprinted and decorative panels in the desired positions on thecontainer 1. As illustrated in FIG. 7,V the exterior surface 42 of thesecondiportion of the closure member 12 contains printing and may alsoinclude decorative effects such as a particular color for the backgroundof the printing, the interior surface 38 of the first portion 36 ofclosure member 12 being similarly decorated with printing, with coloredpanels 28 and 13;? leing printed on the liner member 10 Vof the assem-As illustrated in FIG. 8, the panel 72 may then be die cut to form blank74 in the desired shape as dictated by lthe ultimate configurationdesired for the assembly 3. Either simultaneously with the die cuttingor in a subsequent process, the blank 72 is scored to form thelongitudinal fold lines 50 between the 4tuck aps 48 and the firstportion 36 of the closure member 12, the fold line 16 between theclosure member 12 and the liner member 18 and the fold line 24 betweenthe base portion 18 and the wall portion 2() of the liner member 18. Itis also possibleV to simultaneously die cut the desired retaining orarticle positioning means 34 with the die cutting of the blank 74 andthe scoring of the various fold lines. By so forming the liner-closureassembly 3 in accordance with this invention, the above scoring andcutting may be accomplished by a single operation.

1t is then necessary to invert the blank 74 in order to effect thescoring of the fold line 52 which is adapted for folding in the oppositedirection from the fold lines 50, 16 and 24. With the blank 74 in aninverted position, an adhesive strip 76 is applied to the planarsurfaces 39 and 41 of the closure member 12 for securing together thefirst and second portion 36 and 40 respectively of the closure member12. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive strip 76 is provided onthe second portion 4() of the closure member 12 and the second portion40 is then folded into overlying contact with the first portion 36 ofthe closure member 12 to form the double-layered closure member 12. Itshould be noted that the adhesive strip is spaced inwardly from the edgeof the second portion 40 of closure member 12 opposite the fold line S2a predetermined distance to provide for the retaining flange 64 whichsupports the closure member 12 in an upwardly extending open position.By so folding the closure member 12, the interior surface 38 and theexterior surface 40 are properly positioned for use in the container 1with their advertising and decorative effects properly positioned.

The case 2 may be formed by conventional means and the liner-closureassembly fitted within the case 2 to provide the container 1. Thesequence of operations disclosed herein in regard to the method offorming the liner-closure assembly is exemplary only as it isillustrative of what consider to be preferred methods of forming theassembly 3. Some steps of the method may be altered in sequence withoutmaterially affecting the essence of the invention.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described oneform of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form orarrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as suchlimitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secu-re by Letters Patent is:

1. A container comprising:

(a) a box portion having an interior surface,

('b) means in said box portion for lining at least a portion of saidinterior surface,

(c) closure means hingedly connected to said liner means and engageablein a cooperative manner with said box portion to provide an enclosedcontainer, said closure means including first and second portionsconnected by at least one fold line, said portions being secured inoverlying relation whereby one of said portions denes au exteriorsurface of said closure means and said other portion denes :an interiorsurface of said closure means,

(d) said box portion including a ibottom panel Iand upstanding opposedside walis retained to said bottom panel, said liner means including -abase portion and a wall portion with said base portion in overlyingrelation to said bottom panel and said Wall portion being adjacent oneof said side walls, said closure means being hingedly connected to thewall portion of said liner means,

(e) said liner and closure means being integrally for-med and connectedlby a fold line, and

(f) said second portion of the closure means including means forproviding a lip portion, said lip portion extending rearwardly of saidfold line between said closure means and said liner means in overlyingrelation to the side Wall of said box portion adjacent said -wallportion, said lip portion being engageable with the exterior surface ofsaid side wall to brace said closure means in a rearwardly inclined openposition, said container including cooperative means on said box portionand said liner means to prevent movement of said wall portion of theliner means away from its adjacent side wa-ll when the closure means issw-ung to said open position.

2. A container as recited in claim 1 wherein the rst and second layersof said closure member are secured together by an adhesive strip, saidadhesive strip being spaced inwardly of said fold line connecting saidliner and closure members a predetermined distance to provide a flexiblelip portion for engagement with the exterior suri-ace of the side wallof the case adjacent the wall portion of the liner member.

3. A container as recited in claim 1 wherein the cooperative means forpreventing forward movement of the liner means includes a forward edgeof said liner means and a side wall of said box portion, said side wallybeing in opposed relation to the side wall adjacent the wall portion ofsaid liner means, said forward edge being disposed in generallycontacting relation with said side wall to prevent forward movement ofthe liner member when the closure member is moved to an open position.

4t2. A container comprising:

(a) a box portion having side walls and a bottom panel defining aninterior surface,

(b) means in said box portion for lining lat least a portion of saidinterior surface, said lining means including a wall portion adjacent aside Wall of said box portion,

(c) cooperative means 'on said box portion and said lining means toprevent the movement of said wall portion away from the side Wall ofsaid box portion,

(d) closure means hingedly connected to the wall portion of said liningmeans for swinging movement of said closure means to open and close saidcontainer, said closure means including means engageable with theexterior surface of said side wall adjacent the wall portion of saidliner means to brace said closure means in a rearwardly inclined upwardposition for display of merchandise in said container, and

(e) said bracing means including a lip portion extending rearwardly ofthe hinge connection between the Wall portion of the liner means and theclosure means in overlying relation to the side wall of the =box portionadjacent the wall portion of the liner means, said lip portion having arearward edge engageable with the exterior surface of the side Wall ofthe box portion when the closure means is swung into an open position toretain said closure member in a rearwardly and :upwardly inclinedposition.

5. A container as recited in claim 4 wherein the liner means includes abase portion connected to s-aid w-all portion lby a fold line, said baseportion being in overlying relation to the bottom panel of the boxportion, said base portion having a forward edge in contacting relationto the side Wall of the box portion in opposed relation to the side walladjacent the wall portion of said liner means to prevent movement of thewall portion of the liner means away from said adjacent side wall.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,777 4/ 1913 Michell 229-232,323,820 7/ 1943 Lilienlield 217-58 2,326,281 8/ 1943 Becker 229-442,788,123 4/ 1957 Levis et al. 206-75 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A CONTAINER COMPRISING: (A) A BOX PORTION HAVING AN INTERIOR SURFACE,(B) MEANS IN SAID BOX PORTION FOR LINING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAIDINTERIOR SURFACE, (C) CLOSURE MEANS HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID LINERMEANS AND ENGAGEABLE IN A COOPERATIVE MANNER WITH SAID BOX PORTION TOPROVIDE AN ENCLOSED CONTAINER, SAID CLOSURE MEANS INCLUDING FIRST ANDSECOND PORTIONS CONNECTED BY AT LEAST ONE FOLD LINE, SAID PORTIONS BEINGSECURED IN OVERLYING RELATION WHEREBY ONE OF SAID PORTIONS DEFINES ANEXTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS AND SAID OTHER PORTION DEFINES ANINTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID CLOSURE MEANS, (D) SAID BOX PORTION INCLUDING ABOTTOM PANEL AND UPSTANDING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS RETAINED TO SAID BOTTOMPANEL, SAID LINER MEANS INCLUDING A BASE PORTION AND A WALL PORTION WITHSAID BASE PORTION IN OVERLYING RELATION TO SAID BOTTOM PANEL AND SAIDWALL PORTION BEING ADJACENT ONE OF SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID CLOSURE MEANSBEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO THE WALL PORTION OF SAID LINER MEANS,